Machine for quilting bed-com portables



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Io. 334,275. Patented Jan. 12,1886..

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F.L.PALMER. MACHINE FOR QUILTING BED GOMFORTABLES, &c.

No. 334,275. PatentedJan. 1-2, 1886.

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P.L.PALMBR. MACHINE FOR QUILTING BED COMFORTABLES, 650. No. 334,275.

Patented Jan. '12, 1886.

llllllllil'llllllllilll Illlllllllll M *fiestras UNITED STATES PATENTOrmeas FRANK L. PALMER, OF NEW LONDON, CONNECTICUT.

MACHINE FOR QUILTING BED-COMFORTABLES, C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 334,275, dated January12, 1886.

Application filed April 9, 1885.

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK L. PALMER, of New London, in the county of NewLondon and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Machines for Sewing and Quilting Bed Comfortables, e., ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention is applicable more particularly to machines for quiltingbed-comfortables composed of two sheets or pieces of fabric and aninterposed layer of wadding or padding; but such machines may also beemployed in producing upon fabrics of large size pat'- terns ofornamental sewing or quilting which are appropriate to their shape.

The invention relates to machines in which are employed fabric-supports,on which the fabric is to be stretched or extended, and a long armedsewing` machine, the needle of which may operate upon any portion of theexposed fabric, and in which one of said parts, either thefabric-support or sewing-machine, has or is capable of a-universalmovement under control of a suitable "pattern mechanism,

so as to produce the relative change in position between the needle andfabric, which is necessary to form figures of the desired design.

In the accompanying drawings I have represented a machine whichillustrates my invention, and in which are employed a frame whereon afabric may be stretched or extended, stationary supports for said frame,and a sewing-machine movable to cause its needle to work upon differentportions of the stretched or extended fabric. In this machine isemployed a long beam or arm pivoted at one end upon avertical axis, andprovided at the other end with a supporting-wheel running upon anarc-shaped track or support. Upon this beam or arm is mounted asewing-machine having wheels or rollers,whereby the machine may be movedtoward and from the center of the arm, and upon the same, as on a track.These wheels or rollers of the sewing-machine constitute a secondcarriage having a reciprocating movement on the beam or arm, whichlatter is capable otra swinging movement on its pivot. By reason of thiscompound support, which is provided 1 for the sewing-machine, the lattermaybe moved so that its needle may operate on any portion ofthe'stretched or ex- Serial No. 161,654.

(No model.)

tended fabric, and I provide suitable gear or driving mechanism wherebythe needle-operating shaft and the shaft which operates the 55 looper orshuttle mechanism of the sewingmachine will be driven continuouslyduring the swinging movements of the beam or arm and the reciprocatingor radial movements of the sewing-machine upon the beam or arm.

It will be understood that the sewing-machine, when supported as abovedescribed, may be moved by hand to cause its needle to follow and quiltupon the extended fabric any design which may be delineated orI marked65 thereon; but in order to render the machine automatic in itsoperation I prefer to employ pattern mechanism whereby such movementswill be imparted to the machine. For this purpose I may employ patternmechanism 7o such as is shown in my Letters Patent No.

'308,981, dated December 9, 1881, and which comprises a rack or trackarranged in pattern form. and a positively-operating pinion or otherdevice engaged with said rack or track 75 and moving along the same byits positive rotation or operation.

I have now devised another pattern mechanism which operates somewhatupon the same principle as that just referred to, and 8o which I mayemploy for producing the automatic movement of the sewing-machine. Inthis new pattern mechanism I employ an endless chain, belt, or otherflexible traveler, which is arranged in pattern form, and which 8 5 hasimparted to it a continuons travel or movement. This traveling carriermay be held in pattern form, either by arranging it in a guide slot orgroove or by passing it around rollers or guide-wheels, and if thesewing- 9o machine-is provided with a pin'or tracker which is engaged orconnected with the traveling carrier the machine will receive a movementwhich will cause its needle to produce on the fabric lines of stitchingconforming to the design of the pattern. This particular patternmechanism may be employed in connection with 'other supports for thesewingmachine than those here shown-for example, with supportsconsisting of two carriages, 10o movable, as described, and shown in myaforesaid Letters Patent.

Instead of making the fabric-supports stationary and moving thesewing-machine, it is obvious that the sewing-machine may be stationaryand the fabric-frame mounted upon and movable lengthwise of the swingingbea-n1 or arm above referred to, and connected with the travelingcarrier in the same manner in which the sewing-machine is connected inthe example of my invention here shown.

In the drawings, Figure l is a partly sectional elevation of a machinefor quilting fabrics embodying my invention. Fig. 2 isa plan thereof,the fabric being removed, so as to expose the pattern Vmechanismbeneath. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section on the plane of thedotted line x x, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a sectional View upon a larger scale,illustrating a portion of the pattern mechanism. Fig. 5 is a plan uponthe same scale as Fig. 4, illustrating a traveling carrier which I mayemploy. Fig. Gis aplan of the pattern mechanism on a larger scale thanFigs. l, 2, 3, certain parts being removed to show clearly thetraveling-carrier and the guide slot or groove in which it works. Fig. 7is a transverse section on the plane of the dotted line y y, Fig. 6; andFig. 8 is a partial transverse section on the plane of the dotted line za, Fig. 6.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all thefigures.

A designates a long beam or arm,which may consist of a rolled iron beamof I shaped trans,` verse section, having top and bottom flanges, au'.This beam has at one end a bearing, a2, fitted upon a vertical journalor pivot, b, forming part of the standard or post B.

C designates the upper arm, and C the lower arm,of the sewing-machine,which is provided with wheels or rollers c, fitted to and adapted totravel upon the top ofthe beam or arm A. rIvhese wheels` or rollers lnaybe flanged, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, so as to embrace the topiianges, a, of the beam or arm, and to be guided laterally thereon. Themachine also has at the forward end downwardly-projecting arms orhangers c, united below the beam or arm A by the cross-piece c.

In the arms or hangers c are wheels or rollers c3, which bear upon thelower flanges,A et', of the beam or arm A, and so prevent the` machinefrom canting or rocking in a lateral direction.

In the upper arm, C, of the machine is a needleoperating shaft, D,which, through s uitable mechanism, imparts a reciprocating movement tothe `needle-bar d, and in the lower arm, C', of the sewing-.machine is ashaft, D. which imparts the proper movement to the looper or shuttlemechanismar.

ranged in the work-plate d', which is at theV Aouter end of the lowerarm, C.

` The looper or shuttle mechanism constitutes no part of my presentinvention, but may be o f any ordinary or suitable construction.

At 'the outer end of the beam or arm A is a wheel or roller, A', hung insuitable hangers or brackets, A2, depending from the beam or arm, andadapted to roll or travel on the arcshaped track A3 below the machine.

from the shaft D2.

From the above description it will be understood that the beam or arm Aconstitutesa lower carriage capable of a swinging movement onits'vertical pivot or axis b, and the rollers of the sewing-machineconstitute an upper carriage capable of movement to carry the machinetoward and from the center or pivot of the beam or arm A. These twocarriages provide for a universal movement of the sewing-machine, and Iwill now describe how the rotary mot-ion may be imparted to theneedle-operating shaft D,whatever be the position ofthe sewing-machine.I have here shown a 'driving-shaft. E, which is concentric with the axisor pivot b, and has a bearing, WF, thereon. On this shaft is a bevelgear-wheel, E', which engages with the pinion El, as best shown inFig. 1. The pinion El is secured fast to a shaft, E3, which is journaledin suitable bearings on the beam or arm A, and is grooved throughout thewhole or greater part of its length. The sewing-machine carries a shortshaft, D2, the upper end of which is connected with the needle-operatingshaft D by bevel-wheels cl2 d3, and the lowercnd of which is connectedby a bevel-whee1,d",with abevelwheel.` d5, on the shaft E3. Thebevel-wheel d? has in its hub an annular groove, dii, with which engagesa pin, d, projecting downward The wheel d5 is locked to the shaft E3 byafeather or spline, so that it cannot rotate independently of the shaft,but may be moved freely alongA the shaft. By this mechanism it will beunderstood that the proper rotary motion will be imparted to theneedle-shaft D of the sewing-machine, whatever be its positionlengthwise of the vbeam or arm A, and whatever be the position of thebeam or arm in its swinging movements.

I have not thought it necessary to illustrate any connections betweenthe needle-operating shaft D and the looper or shuttle-shaft D. The onemay be operated from the vother by any ordinary or suitable form ofconnections which may be arranged within the hollow frame of thesewing-machine, and to which my invention does not relate.

Fdesignates a comfortable or other fabric to be quilted or sewed. Ashere shown, it is eX- tended or stretched upon a rectangular frame, F',which in turn rests upon and is supported by standards F2. When thusarranged, the lower arm of the sewing-machine moves be low the fabricand the upper arm` above the fabric.

When I say that the fabric is stretched or extended, I do not mean tolimit myself to a fabric of approximately the same size as the frame F,but` I may provide a frame having rollers at two opposite sides, fromone to the other of which the fabric may be passed after the patternbetween them has been quilted, and by which the exposed portion of thefab` rie is held stretched or extended.

' In connection with the sewing-machine supports, as described, I mayemploy any suitv able pattern mechanism for producing the` automaticmovement of the sewing-machine; but the mechanism which is here shown isbe# lieved to be novel, and will now be described. It consists of aframe or plate comprising a central portion, G, and a fixed portion, G',within which the central circular portion is fitted, and which ismounted upon suitable supports, g. The movable part of the patternmechanism comprises one or more endless traveling carriers, which mayconsist of chains, belts, or analogous flexible devices. I have hereshown three such traveling carriers, which are adapted to produce on thequilt or fabric a pattern appropriate to its shape. One travelingcarrier, H, is arranged and supported by the central circular portion,G, of the pattern. Another traveling carrier, H', is arranged aroundthis central portion and in the portion G of the pattern. The thirdtraveling carrier, H2, is arranged in form of a rectangular figure, withrounded corners near the margin of the pattern-plate G'. I have shownthese traveling carriers as arranged in grooves h h' h" in the plate orboard G G', these grooves being in the same form as the parts of thepattern which are to be produced by their respective carriers. Thegroovehformsacentral elongated gure of irregular design. The groove It'forms a circular ligure, the profile of which is serpentine or sinuous,and the groove h2 forms a rectangular tlgu re with rounded corners.

The traveling carriers are or may be confined in their respectivegrooves by flanges or caps hit, forming between them a narrow slot, it,through which thevcarrier is exposed. The iianges It* are removed fromthe portions h h of the grooves shown in Fig. 6, in order to showclearly the traveling carriers in said grooves; but such flanges areshown in position on the groove h2.

One form of traveling carrier which I may employ I have shown in Figs. 4and 5, and it consists of chain-links h3, connected by pivotpins h4, andhaving anti-friction rollers h5 loose on said pins. The pins or pintlesh4 of the chain may be shouldered at the ends, so as to receive thelinks h, as is ordinarily done with drive-chains. In the linksh3 areholes h, with which may be engaged a pin or tracker, I, carried by thecross-piece c2 of the sewing-machineand the pin or tracker I may bemoved vertically by connections in said cross-piece, in order to free itfrom or engage it with the holes h in the chain-links.

I propose to transmit a forward movement continuously in one directionto the several traveling carriers l1J h' h2 by mechanism such as isshown best in Figs. 6, 7, 8, or by any other suitable mechanismapplicable for the purpose. At the center of the circular portion G ofthe pattern-plate I have shown a shaft, g', which by means ofbevel-wheels g2 g3 receives rotary motion from the shaft g4, arranged inbearings below the machine. At

the upper end of the shaft g' is a sprocketwheel or toothed wheel, g*,which engages with the opposite portions of the chain H, as best shownin Fig. 6, but also in Fig. 7, and by rotating in the direction of thearrow, Fig. 6, moves the traveling carrier H continuously forward in onedirection. Adjacent to the travelng carrier H' is arranged a shaft, Z,having at its upper end a sprocket ortoothed wheel, Z', engagedk withsaid carrier, and which is driven by an endless chain, z', from thecenter shaft, g'. By this means the wheel Z is caused to move in thedirection of the arrow shown thereon in Fig. 6, and imparts to thetraveling carrier H'a motion continuously in the direction of the arrowthereon in Fig. 6.

In the portion G of the pattern-plate I have shown a shaft, j, which bywheels or pinions j'j2 andan intermediate wheel or pinion, j, receivesmovement continuously from the shaft Z. On the shaftj is a sprocket ortoothed wheel, y, which is arranged at one corner of the fgure formedbythe traveling carrier H2, and which by engaging with said carriermoves it forward continuously in the direction of the arrow shown inFig. 6.

From the above description it will be understood that when the pin ortracker I of the sewing-machine is engaged with either of the travelingcarriers here shown the sewingmachine will be moved automatically andits needle will be caused to travel along and sew the fabric in linescorresponding to the pattern form in which the traveling carriers arearranged. After the machine has been 0perated by the traveling carrier Hto produce one figure the pin or tracker I may be moved out ofengagement with said carrier and the sewingmachine moved by hand, so asto enable the pin or tracker to be engaged with the carrier H'. In likemanner, after the machine has been moved by the carrier H', the

pin or tracker I may bc raised and disengagedtherefrom7 and the machinemay be moved to permit of the pin or tracker being engaged with thetraveler H2. The slots it, which are formed between the iianges lnk,permit the pin or tracker I to be engaged with the carrier travelingbeneath, and in such slots the pin or tracker moves.

By turning the central portion, G, ofthepattern-plate, Iprovide forproducing a highly ornamental figure by means of a traveling carrierhaving a pattern form of simple de sign. I have shown the portion G ofthe pattern plate as provided with a bolt, 7c, which may be engaged withone or the other of two keepers, 7c' k2, on the portion G' of thepatternplate. After the needle has been caused to produce a ligure ofthe same form as the groove h upon the fabric, I may shove back bolt kand turn the central portion, G', of the pattern-plate throughout aquarter of a circle, so that said bolt may be engaged with the keeperk2. By the traveling carrier H the flgure corresponding to thepattern-groove h may be repeated on the center of the extended fabric,and in a position at right angles to the first figure. It will beobvious that this rotary ad- IOO IIO

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justment of the pattern provides for producing highly ornamental andseemingly complicated figures on the fabrics by means of a pattern ofcomparatively simple design, and it will be understood that a likeresult could be secured by turning the fabric after one figure had beenproduced upon it, in order that the sa-me figure might be .repeated ina' different position on the fabric.

Although I have only shown my improved pattern mechanism as employed inconnection with one form of supports which permit a universal movementof the sewing machine, it will be understood that the same patternmechanism can be employed in connection with other supports for thesewing-machinesuch, for example, as are shown in Patent No. 308,982,granted to IV. H. Palmer, Jr., December 9, 1884. It is also obvious thatthe peculiar system of supports or carriages for the sewing-machinemight be providedfor the fabric and the sewingmachine itself' bestationary, as in my former patent, hereinabove referred to. The pivot bconstitutes a center about which the sewing machine may be swung.

It is obvious that the pivotal support of the swinging beam or arm maybe elsewhere than at the end thereof.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a machine for quilting or sewing fabrics, the combination, with afabric support on which a fabric may be stretched or extended, and asewing-machine for operating thereon, of movable supports for one ofsaid parts, consisting of a beam or arm, A, having'a bearing, a",fitting a pivot, Z), and provided at the end with a roller-support, A,and a curved or arc-shaped track, A3, for the roller support, and aroller-carriage movable upon the beam or arm A3 toward and from itssupportingpivot, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

2. In a machine for quilting or sewingfabrics, the combination, with asupport on which a fabric may be stretched or extended, and asewing-machineforoperating thereon, of movablesupports for thesewing-machine,consist ing of a pivoted beam or arm, A, having a rollersupport, A', at the end, a curved or arc;shaped track, A3, for theroller-support, and rollers or wheels c upon the sewing-inachine runningupon the top of the beam or arm A toward and from the pivot thereof,substantially as herein described.

3. In a machine for sewing or quilting fabrics, the combination, with asupport on which a fabric may be stretched or extended, and asewing-machine for operating thereon, of mov'- able supports for one ofsaid parts, and a pattern mechanism for controlling said movable part,consisting of a flexible traveling carrier arranged in pattern form, anda connection between said carrier and said movable part, substantiallyas herein described.

4. In a machine for sewing or quilting fabrics, the combination, withasupport on which a fabric may be stretched or extended, and asewing-machine for operating thereon, of movable supports for thesewing-machine, gearing for transmitting motion to the. needle-operatingshaft of the movable sewing-machine, and a pattern mechanism forcontrolling 'the movable sewing-machine, consisting of a flexibletraveling carrier arranged in pattern form,and a connection between saidcarrier and the sewing-machine, substantially as herein described.

5. In a machine for sewing or quilting fabrics, the combination, with asupport on which a fabric may be stretched or extended, and asewing-machine for operating thereon, ofmovable supports for one of saidparts, and a pattern mechanism for controlling said movable part,consisting of a flexible traveling carrier, a guide in pattern form,wherein said carrier moves, and a connection between said carrier andthe movable part, substantially as herein described.

6. In a machine for sewing or quilting fabrics, the combination, with asupport on which a fabric may be stretched or extended, and asewing-machine for operating thereon, of movable supports for one ofsaid parts, and a pattern mechanism for controlling said movable part,consisting of a traveling carrier, a plate having upon it a guide ofpattern form,where in the said carrier moves, and a connection betweensaid carrier and the movable part, substantially as herein described. v

7. In a machine for sewing or quilting fabrics, the combination, withasupport on which a fabric may be stretched or extended` and asewing-machine for operating thereon, of movable supports for one ofsaid parts, and a pattern mechanism for controlling said movable part,consisting of a number of flexible traveling carriers arranged inpattern form, and a device, as pin or tracker I, whereby the movablepart may be detachably connected with any one of the traveling carriers,substantially as herein described.

S. In a machine for sewing or quilting fabrics, the combination, withasupport on which a fabric may be stretched or extended, and asewing-machine for operating thereon, of movable supports for one ofsaid parts,- and a pattern mechanism for controlling said movable part,consisting of an endless chain or flexible traveling carrier arranged inpattern form, gearing for driving said chain or traveling carrier, and aconnection. between the latter and movable part, substantially as hereindescribed.

9. In a machine for sewing or quilting fabrics, the combination, with asupport on which a fabric may be stretched or extended, and asewing-machine for operat-iug thereon, of movable supports for one ofsaid parts, and a pattern mechanism for controlling said movable part,consisting of an endless traveling carrier, a pattern-plate having in ita guide in pattern form for the said carrier, fianges overlap.-

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ping said guide to confine the carrier therein, and a connection betweensaid carrier and movable part, substantially as herein described.

10. In a machine for sewing or quilting fabrics, the combination, with asupport on which a fabric may be stretched or extended, and asewing-machine for operating thereon, of movable supports for one ofsaid parts, and a pattern mechanism for controlling said movable part,consisting of a pattern-plate having a circular portion capable ofbeing` turned, and a surrounding portion, traveling carriers arranged inpattern form on both portions of the plate, and a device, as pin ortracker I, forming a detachable connection between said carriers and thesaid movable part, substantially as herein. described.

1l. In a machine for sewing or quilting fab-A rics, the combination,witha support on which a fabric may be stretched or extended, and asewing-machine for operating thereon, of movable supports for one ofsaid parts,consisting of a pivoted beam or arm anda roller-carriagemovable thereon toward and from the pivot of the beam or arm, andpattern mechanism for con trolling t-he said roller-carriage, consistingof a traveling carrier arranged in pattern form, and a connectionbetween said carrier and the said roller-carriage, substantially asherein described.

12. In a machine for sewing or quilting fabrics, the combination, with asupport whereon a fabric may be stretched or extended, and asewing-machine for operating thereon, of movable supports for one ofsaid parts, and a pattern mechanism connected with the movable part forcontrolling its movements, and supports for the pattern mechanismcapable of rotary movement to permit the operation of the patternmechanism in different positions about the center of movement of itssupports, substantially as herein-described.

13. In a machine for sewing or quilting fabrics, the combination, with asupport whereon a fabric may be stretched or extended, and asewing-,machine for operating thereon, of movable supports for one ofsaid parts, pattern mechanism consisting of a traveling carrierconnected with the movable part for controlling its movements, and asupport for the traveling carrier capable of rotary movement to permitthe operation of the traveling carrier in different positions,substantially as herein described.

'14. In a machine for sewing or quilting fabrics, the combination, withasupport on which a fabric may be stretched or extended, asewing-machine for operating thereon, and movable supports for one ofsaid parts, of a pattern for controlling the movable part, comprising initself a portion which is movable relatively to the remaining portionsof the pattern, and a connection between the pattern and the part whichit controls, substantially as herein described. v

15. In a machine for sewing or quilting fabrics, the combination, with asupport on which a fabric may be stretched or extended, a sewing-machinefor operating thereon, and movable supports for the sewing-machine,consisting of a pivoted carriage capable of swinging movement, and asecond carriage movable upon the first carriage toward and from thepivot thereof, of a pattern for controllmg the movements of thesewing-machine, and a connection between the sewing-machine and pattern,arranged concentrically with the needle of the sewingmachine,substantially as hereln described.

16. In a machine for sewing or quilting fabrics, the combination, with asupport whereon a fabric may be stretched or extended, a sewing-machinefor operating thereon, and movable supports for one of said parts, of apattern plate having upon it a guide in pattern form and capable ofrotary movement to change the position of said guide, and a connectionbetween the movable part and said guide, substantially as hereindescribed.

FRANK L. PALMER. Witnesses:

- C. HALL,

FREDK. HAYNns.

